Tokyo Character Street

With 21 stores featuring animated media stars from Winnie the Pooh to Pokémon to Moomin, Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station is heaven if you love cartoons and all the related paraphernalia. Otherwise, you’ll probably want to walk right past all the shops.

Finding your way underground in Tokyo Station is like navigating the Labyrinth, except you don’t have anything as nifty as Ariadne’s thread to get you through. One area you’re likely to stumble upon while hunting for a bowl of ramen is the adjacent area, Tokyo Character Street.

This area is essentially a long passageway lined with a total of 21 stores, each themed around a specific cartoon, animation, or media corporation specializing in mascots and animated characters. It is a microcosm of mostly-Japanese pop culture concentrated into a few hundred meters of shopping. Think Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, Pokémon, Moomin, and One Piece.

When they say character goods are available here, they mean it. You can find almost any item conceivable here: notebooks, umbrellas, keychains, jigsaw puzzles, towels, playing cards - all printed with your favorite characters on them.

Tokyo Character Street is worth seeking out only if you have an interested in shopping for character goods, or are with people who want to visit. Otherwise, you’re better off walking straight through and heading for the restaurants beyond.

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